...to fake the passport application?

[passportissues123]

Sorry, posting here for traffic, I have no intention of faking the application but I'm stuck!

We moved abroad last summer, DD is about to turn 5 and her (UK) passport will expire. In order to renew it her photos need to be countersigned by someone who has known me for 2 years.... there is no one in this country that fits the bill! What do I do?!

It will expire before we are able to get back to the UK to sort it out, at which point she'll be stuck in this country with no valid travel documentation.

Any ideas? You used to be able to go to the embassy for passport renewals but I can't find any information on the website, only about online application forms....

Go to the embassy, apply for an emergency travel document, sort passport once in U.K.. that's your easiest, fastest, and legal, option.

Here:

Oh that's a good idea. Get one of husbands colleagues to do it. That way stuff is through work mail (and they are likely to have multiple FedEx deliveries anyway) and it's less hassle. I've signed for colleagues children who I've never met (as you're signing about the person making the application not the child).

Is there a local UK expats group you could contact? I arranged a signature for a colleague in Adelaide by googling UK expat clubs - the guy was still a registered solicitor in the Uk & signed everything for my colleague.

Can't you take it into a police station and ask them to countersign?
Or had Dd been to a local Pte school?
Failing that then send it home to uk to someone.

I'm not sure DH's colleagues would be happy signing a true likeness of DD when they haven't met her, they might be okay if they see holiday photos.

And we'd need to ask another Brit ex-pat otherwise application is delayed because countersignatory does not hold UK passport.

I guess we just need to start asking around and stop second guessing what people will/won't do for us!

Thanks all.

Why doesn't your DH take her to meet the colleague then? 5 mins at lunchtime. Honestly, you sound like you are just trying to find problems!

US EU and commonwealth passport holders can also sign, though website says this will slow down the application.

Jessie thanks for your help I can read the website and have also previously referenced the fact that using a non-UK passport holder is not an option because a slow return of the passport will mean no Easter break and I need to get away from this place.

Why doesn't your DH take her to meet the colleague then at lunchtime

1. DD is in school, full time.
2. DH is in work, full time +++. Half the time he's not in the same country as DD never mind the same postcode or the same building. I am doing the fixing because he has so little time to do it.

I am not 'finding' problems. They are real problems I am trying to work around.

Is any of her teacher from the uk

Why doesn't your DH take her to meet the colleague then at lunchtime

Use skype then your DHs colleague could see your DD?

Her teachers haven't known me or her for 2 years.

I might suggest a Skype meeting between DD and one of the few UK passport holders in DH's company.... I will post here DH's actual response once received (he's out at a business dinner ATM. Haven't seen him since 7.45am)

I suspect he will tell me that such a call would not be welcomed. These guys run a massive multi million pound company. Passport forms for kids are not on their radar, I assure you.

Repatriation to where Jessie? She's trying to get home! It's at the discretion of both immigration officers and airline. Previous passport is proof of citizenship which is what is needed to gain entry to home country. Not saying this will always work but it has worked for some. Obviously the best course of action would be an emergency travel document.

OP, I am sorry that you are so unhappy living abroad and having your husband absent so often. I do hope that you get your wish to return to the UK permanently as soon as possible.

oneplus what I am saying is that airlines will very very rarely exercise discretion and allow someone to travel on an invalid document. This is because they have no control over what the authorities at destination will do, even if the risk of that person being sent back where they came from is probably quite small, which it would be if the person was a U.K. National trying to enter the UK. This is because border authorities use airlines as their first form of defence by requiring them to check documentation and penalising them when passengers arrive with incorrect docs. I imagine that they'd be particularly wary about a child travelling on an expired passport as it might ring alarm bells about kidnapping. All false in this case, we know, but they tend to be over-cautious.

I've done a passport renewal for a child and posted it on before.
The parents filled out all the details. I just did my bit then put it the post to the passport office.
Yes I work full time but the post office near me is open until 10 as it's a corner shop too. Can it not just go in the post box anyway?

I posted the form to an old neighbour in the UK who had known my children since babies. Actually I posted it to my mum ( registered mail) . HE signed it and then my mum posted it to the passport office. Could this be an idea?

We used my Mums neighbour for this after we relocated so had no friends locally wed know long enough to countersign. If you can't think of any friends of your own who can do it, are there any friends of your or your DH's parents who could do it?

You can renew the passport and pay for it online!

Did you see lougle's link? Renewing overseas?

OP would still have to send countersigned photographs if she applies online.

Yes signed photos, old passport and declaration form still has to be physically sent over.